Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for November 26, 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Seven cops suspended for partying with criminals

LUCKNOW – Seven Uttar Pradesh policemen were suspended for partying with four criminals and their associates at a hotel here, police said Friday.

The policemen had brought the criminals from Gorakhpur to Lucknow for a hearing in the Allahabad High Court bench here Wednesday in connection with a booth capturing case. The policemen reached here … Original article on : Seven cops suspended for partying with criminals.

British schoolgirl arrested for burning Quran

LONDON – A 15-year-old schoolgirl has been arrested in Britain after a video of her burning the Quran was posted on Facebook, a media report said Friday.

The girl from Sandwell in Birmingham reportedly set fire to an English language copy of the Islamic holy book, and was watched by other pupils in her school …. Source : British schoolgirl arrested for burning Quran.

Indian man killed in attack in Philippines

MANILA – An Indian man was killed and another wounded in an attack by suspected robbers in a southern Philippine town, a police official said Friday.

The victims were riding on a motorcycle when unidentified gunmen fired at them late Thursday in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat province, 990 km south of Manila.
…. Read the original article : here.

Third blast rocks New Zealand coal mine where 29 died

WELLINGTON – A third explosion rocked a New Zealand coal mine Friday, shortly before the nation observed a minute’s silence to mark the time the initial blast led to the death of 29 men a week earlier.

Although emergency services personnel were working on plans to try to recover the bodies of the men, after …. Source : Third blast rocks New Zealand coal mine where 29 died.

Post-floods, Leh looks for ‘lost’ tourists

LEH – The flash floods that washed away parts of Leh in Jammu and Kashmir also scared away the tourists who had become synonymous with the town, leaving the region and its economy in a state of suspended animation.

“Right after the flash floods, television channels flooded their air-time showing the devastation and wreck of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Post-floods, Leh looks for ‘lost’ tourists.

Pakistan paramilitary detains 500 ANP activists

KARACHI – Pakistan Rangers paramilitary personnel launched multiple raids in Karachi Thursday evening and detained over 500 activists of the Awami National Party (ANP), which described it as a “target operation”, a media report said Friday.

ANP spokesperson Major Farooq Bilal rejected television reports that said the operation was against terrorists and said the Rangers [..] Read the original article: here.

Nearly 1,200 women killed in Pakistan in 2010: Report

ISLAMABAD – Of the 1,195 women murdered in Pakistan this year, 98 were killed after being raped, says a report by the country’s first helpline for women and children.

The Madadgaar helpline released a report in Karachi Thursday on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Geo News reported … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nearly 1,200 women killed in Pakistan in 2010: Report.

More home-made explosives found in California

WASHINGTON – More home-made explosives were found in a California residence described as a “bomb-making factory” by police, US broadcaster CNN reported.

Authorities found two home-made explosive devisives and some pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), an explosive used by Al Qaeda and the reason for controversial enhanced airport scanners currently being unveiled at US airports, the report … Read : More home-made explosives found in California.

Nine die in Dominican Republic fire

Santo Domingo, Nov 26 (IANS/EFE) At least nine people died in a fire started by an explosion at a hospital in Dominican Republic, officials said.

The fire engulfed a wing of the hospital that is still under construction late Wednesday in Santo Domingo Norte city, killing the people working inside, an official said.
“We …. Read the original article : here.

Haiti cholera deaths top 1,500

Port-au-PRINCE – An estimated 1,523 people have died of cholera and the epidemic could last for years in Haiti, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has said.

According to the organisation, the cholera outbreak has also sent 27,933 Haitians to hospital since the first detection of the disease in October, Xinhua reported Friday. PAHO …. Original source : Haiti cholera deaths top 1,500.

Former priest jailed for sexually abusing 155 children

BERLIN – A former Catholic priest was sentenced to seven years’ jail Thursday for sexually abusing 155 children over several years, after admitting to some of the charges in a German court.

The former priest, 50, who worked at a school near the city of Kassel, said he had sexually abused six altar boys between …. Read the original article : here.

Probe into Kerry-Lugar funds’ embezzlement by NGOs in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to investigate reports of alleged corruption in the funds being disbursed to NGOs for development projects under the Kerry-Lugar bill.

A two-member delegation of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) met NAB chairman Justice (retd.) Deedar Hussain Shah Thursday and requested him to look … Read more >>>.

Lawyer shot at outside home

NEW DELHI – A lawyer was seriously injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at him outside his home in east Delhi Thursday night, police said.

“The victim, Rishiraj, 50, was just a few meters from his residence at Karkardooma when shots were fired at him around 9 p.m.,” said a senior police official.
The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lawyer shot at outside home.

Chhattisgarh engineer has assets of Rs.40 million

RAIPUR – Simultaneous raids Thursday on two houses of a junior engineer in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur town revealed that the official owns assets worth Rs.40 million, sources said.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau raided two locations of Chandrakant Manik, sub-engineer posted with Bilaspur Municipal Corporation, and seized documents, cash and jewellery that confirmed that he has amassed properties …. Read the original article : Chhattisgarh engineer has assets of Rs.40 million.

Capt Kohli’s mother dejected over Antony’s reply, wants CBI probe

CHANDIGARH – Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s comment in the Rajya Sabha that young army officer Captain Sumit Kohli had committed suicide and no further inquiry is required in the case has saddened the officer’s mother Veena Kohli who is now demanding a CBI probe into the death.

Antony’s answer has come as a big … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Capt Kohli’s mother dejected over Antony’s reply, wants CBI probe.

Rare conviction for possessing banned diamonds

SURAT – In the first conviction of its kind in the country, two foreign nationals were Thursday convicted by a court here for possession of banned diamonds.

Two Lebanese nationals, S. Yusuf and Roboi Hussain, were sentenced to four years imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs.1 lakh by Chief Judicial Magistrate V.G. Trivedi on … Read more »»».

Mirwaiz roughed up at Chandigarh seminar (Second Lead)

CHANDIGARH – Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was roughed up by displaced Kashmiri Pandits and Hindu right-wing activists at a seminar here Thursday for his alleged anti-India comments.

The Chandigarh police arrested 21 accused, including seven women, and booked them for rioting. Those arrested included over a dozen Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists. They …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Mirwaiz roughed up at Chandigarh seminar (Second Lead).